As the nation prepares for the elections in 2023, Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad III, a member of the Christian Association of Nigeria and the Sultan of Sokoto, raised fresh concerns regarding the dangers of electoral violence, including all related forms of rigging and hate speech.
As a result, they offered solutions for avoiding the problems that could affect the polls in 2023.
These were said by Sultan Abubakar and Archbishop Daniel Okoh, President of CAN, at the Inclusive Security Dialogue in Abuja, which was hosted by the Global Peace Foundation in collaboration with ADF International and Vision Africa.
According to The PUNCH, the meeting gave community leaders from various dissident, militia, and agitation groups in Nigeria a chance to untangle obstacles to Nigeria’s peace and security.
The President of the CAN issued a warning against electoral violence, stating that its repercussions could stymie the country’s democratic process.
He asserts that even though reducing pre- and post-election violence in Nigeria remained a monumental undertaking, well-meaning Nigerians and other development partners who wish to avoid electoral violence and its repercussions should not be discouraged.
Okoh stressed that the peace agreement signed by presidential candidates should be more than just a formality and that security agencies should be aware of their responsibilities to enforce the law against election violence perpetrators.
He expressed, “In spite of the fact that beginning around 2014 a few heads of extraordinary impact in Nigeria drove by a previous Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar on the foundation of Public Harmony Board get the responsibility of the official up-and-comers of gatherings by empowering them to sign International agreement, the security organizations should be alive to their obligations to implement the law against culprits of political decision viciousness.It is abundantly clear that the National Peace Committee’s goal is not simply to uphold every righteous standard.Law enforcement officials should diligently monitor the Peace Accord’s signing to ensure that all parties comply and face severe penalties for breaking it.
He advised the federal and state governments to make genuine efforts to either provide youth with employment opportunities or training and funding for their small businesses in order to prevent them from utilizing their youthful energy for the destructive practice of electoral violence.
Youth drug and substance abuse, according to the cleric, is a recipe for electoral violence.Okoh demanded that the Independent National Electoral Commission exercise impartiality prior to, during, and following elections.
He stated, “INEC must be seen to give all candidates and their political parties a level playing field.”In the upcoming elections, it should not be allowed to resurface the allegations that electoral officers conspired with party agents to frustrate voters on election day or tamper with the results.Post-election violence can be sparked by allegations of unfairness and injustice on the part of the electoral body’s officers.
“The election of 2023 holds the key to our progress as a nation or our designation as a failed or failing state,” according to the article.